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Friday, September 23, 2011

The New York Rangers prospects got a little revenge for the Albany loss Wednesday night with a 5-4 overtime win when Jonathan Audy-Marchessault scored 16 seconds in. The players Rangers' fans want to see stand out did so on the scoresheet with Ryan Bourque netting two, while J.T. Miller and Christian Thomas got one each. Let us all hope that the game tonight is as entertaining as this one seemed to have been.

Be sure to head over to Mike Ashmore's twitter to check out the videos he has been posting from the game.

<p>Playing with Callahan and Stepan is a huge opportunity for Hagelin in his quest to make the roster. Interesting to see Zuccarello in Prust's spot instead of someone like Rupp, but there isn't enough skill with Newbury and Weise for Zuccarello. <br>
</p>

The New York Rangers have a series of battles going on to make the 2011-12
opening night roster and amongst those competing for a spot is Mats Zuccarello. With Gaborik, Richards, Dubinsky, Callahan, Anisimov, Prust, Boyle, Stepan, Fedotenko, Rupp, and Wolski seemingly locked on the roster there are only 1 or 2 spots to be had up front. Zuccarello got some good news yesterday when
he was selected to practice with all of those expected to make the Rangers
forward core when they open Oct. 7 against the Kings.Even with that reinforcement, Larry Brooks,
of the New
York Post, is reporting this morning that Zuccarello is taking nothing for
granted.

"Sure, it shows confidence from the coaches to be in this group now,
but there is a long way before the first game and we have a lot of players
fighting for spots on the roster, so I know I have to earn a position and keep
showing that I want it and am willing to work hard for it, which I am.

"Nothing is handed to you. I completely understand that."

That attitude is exactly what coach John Tortorella expects from everyone on
the team and if Zuccarello does make the team it will because he took that
approach and that he continues to play at the level he has thus far in camp.

"Zuke is in competition like a number of guys," the coach said.
"He's played very well, he makes [subtle] plays that can go unnoticed,
small plays in small areas of the ice, but he's still in a competition.

"He's in there now, but it could change."

Those are certainly encouraging words from Tortorella, but still show a similar lack of commitment to the Norweigan's future that Tortorella had when asked about how long Zuccarello would be on the team last season.

Zuccarello’s 42 games with the Rangers, in which he recorded 23 points should
help him in the competition, but his $1.75 mil cap hit does have some negative
impact on his standing.The Rangers do
have the space for him if either Erik Christensen or Sean Avery get cut before
the start of the season.The other key
in terms of Zuccarello’s standing on the team might be what the team ultimately
decides to do with Derek Stepan.There
are still questions as to whether Stepan will play center or left wing this season
and a move to the wing for Stepan, especially with Gaborik and Richards, would
change the dynamic of the Rangers lower lines and possibly cost Zuccarello.